Menarini and partners roll out free cognitive assessment tests

Menarini, a subsidiary of the renowned Italian pharmaceutical company Menarini Group, has teamed up with CARiNG Pharmacy Malaysia and ACT4Health Sdn Bhd, a social enterprise spin-off from the University of Malaya, to spearhead the “Catch Mild Cognitive Impairment Early: Act Now, Remember More” campaign. This initiative aims to drive awareness and promote early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that can significantly affect an individual’s cognitive abilities and overall well-being.

MCI is characterized by a noticeable decline in cognitive abilities, such as memory and thinking skills, but is not severe enough to interfere significantly with daily life. Unlike dementia, individuals with MCI can generally maintain their self-care abilities and continue with their daily activities. The campaign underscores the importance of early detection and intervention to enhance the quality of life and slow the progression of cognitive decline.

Raising Awareness Through the VCAT

As part of the campaign, Menarini, CARiNG Pharmacy, and ACT4Health are offering the Visual Cognitive Assessment Test (VCAT) at selected CARiNG Pharmacy outlets across Malaysia. The test aims to raise awareness about MCI among Malaysians and help individuals assess their risk. The VCAT includes a series of visual and cognitive tasks designed to measure various aspects of cognitive function, such as memory and attention.

Josie Ong, Commercial Director of A. Menarini Singapore Pte Ltd (Malaysia branch), emphasized the importance of the campaign, stating, “ Launching this campaign is extremely important and meaningful for us at A. Menarini as we also have like-minded partners like CARiNG Pharmacy and ACT4Health to tackle this pressing cognitive issue identified through research and community feedback.”

Bu Min Yee, Senior Training Executive/Pharmacist at CARiNG Pharmacy, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the community-driven approach of CARiNG Pharmacy. “This exclusive partnership with A. Menarini is a way to advance our commitment to increasing awareness of MCI and promoting early detection. We hope more Malaysians will take this opportunity to take the VCAT test for free at our selected outlets.”

Empowering Communities with Health Literacy

The campaign not only focuses on early detection but also on empowering the community with knowledge about MCI and its prevention strategies. Professor Dr. Tan Maw Pin, Geriatric Medicine Consultant and Founder of ACT4Health Sdn Bhd, emphasized the importance of health literacy in managing cognitive health. “ Everyone needs to understand that their health is also their responsibility, and as caregivers to older family members, we must also remember to empower them to seek help early. As we all know, early detection can help us plan for long-term care and take health actions before the condition worsens, such as changing our diet and exercising more.

The “Catch Mild Cognitive Impairment Early: Act Now, Remember More” campaign aims to underscore the importance of understanding and addressing MCI. By offering the VCAT free of charge at selected CARiNG Pharmacy outlets, the initiative seeks to make cognitive health assessments accessible to more Malaysians, encouraging early diagnosis and intervention.

For more information on the availability and locations of the VCAT, please visit the CARiNG Pharmacy official Facebook page here.